Everybody agrees about getting the right plan in place for the Warehouse District. But a Peoria City Council policy/workshop session on the matter Tuesday night was deferred for two more weeks for more staff input to be provided.
City staff has accelerated the Phase I preliminary engineering sequence or the city risks losing the $10 million dollar federal funding to kick start the infrastructure work. Public Works Director Dave Barber says the schedule is tight. Barber warned the council a design outline needs to be in IDOT's hands by Decenber 31st, or the Tiger II funding would be in jeopardy.
Some council members continued the argument of changing Adams and Jefferson from one way to two way thoroughfares. Others questioned landscaping, and street and sidewalk width plans. The council will further consider the option November 22nd.
In other business, City Manager Patrick Urich told the council the likely number of early retirement incentives could reduce the number of staff layoffs from 52 to maybe at net of 25 or possibly less. The planned staff reduction is being implemented to erase an over $5 million dollar budget deficit. An Early Retirement Incentive is being offered to city staff which qualifies.
